This Weekend's NFL Games: Be Careful What You Wish For, G'ints Fans
I remember like it was yesterday: Plaxico Burress shot himself and became a national joke. Sports fans looked at New York lofty record and decided he would not be missed.
My thought at the time was: Be careful what you wish for.
The absence of Burress left the G'ints without a deep threat nor a red zone receiver who could out leap and out muscle defenders. And it would prove costly. Yesterday's loss to the hated Eagles ended New York's hopes of back to back Super Bowl wins and reinforces the notion that last season was just a bit of a fluke.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are now the clear cut favorites to win what would be a record sixth Super Bowl. Big Ben Roethlisberger played well yesterday and the Steelers scored enough points to take the pressure off their defense, which is clearly the best in football.
Who has the second best defense? Only the team that Pittsburgh must beat next Sunday: the Baltimore Ravens. Yet picking rookie game manager Joe Flacco, despite his awe inspiring right arm, to beat Big Ben is not something I am prepared to do. Any thinking fan must look at the matchup and give the decided edge to the home standing Steelers. Expect a narrow but decisive win for Ben, James Harrison and the rest of the Pittsburgh team.
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Though the two best remaining teams come from out of the AFC, the biggest story is the rise of the heretofore deplorable Arizona Cardinals. Winning their first home playoff game in many decades last week, I don't expect too many of us thought the Cardinals had a fighting chance against the homestanding Carolina Panthers. But fight is what Arizona did, led by the incredible Larry Fitzgerald and an explosive offense. Dominating the game from start to finish, the Cardinals will now host the NFC Championship Game in their beautiful stadium. Good for them. I expect the Cardinals and the ultra talented offense to beat Philly and move on to their very first Super Bowl, where they will be the sacrificial lamb to the Steelers lion.
My thought at the time was: Be careful what you wish for.
The absence of Burress left the G'ints without a deep threat nor a red zone receiver who could out leap and out muscle defenders. And it would prove costly. Yesterday's loss to the hated Eagles ended New York's hopes of back to back Super Bowl wins and reinforces the notion that last season was just a bit of a fluke.
---------------
The Pittsburgh Steelers are now the clear cut favorites to win what would be a record sixth Super Bowl. Big Ben Roethlisberger played well yesterday and the Steelers scored enough points to take the pressure off their defense, which is clearly the best in football.
Who has the second best defense? Only the team that Pittsburgh must beat next Sunday: the Baltimore Ravens. Yet picking rookie game manager Joe Flacco, despite his awe inspiring right arm, to beat Big Ben is not something I am prepared to do. Any thinking fan must look at the matchup and give the decided edge to the home standing Steelers. Expect a narrow but decisive win for Ben, James Harrison and the rest of the Pittsburgh team.
---------------
Though the two best remaining teams come from out of the AFC, the biggest story is the rise of the heretofore deplorable Arizona Cardinals. Winning their first home playoff game in many decades last week, I don't expect too many of us thought the Cardinals had a fighting chance against the homestanding Carolina Panthers. But fight is what Arizona did, led by the incredible Larry Fitzgerald and an explosive offense. Dominating the game from start to finish, the Cardinals will now host the NFC Championship Game in their beautiful stadium. Good for them. I expect the Cardinals and the ultra talented offense to beat Philly and move on to their very first Super Bowl, where they will be the sacrificial lamb to the Steelers lion.
posted by joe sweeney at 7:59 AM
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